Gravel-spreader and road-leveler.



PATENTED APR. 30, 1907. p. M. TRABUE. 'GRAV'EL SPREADER AND ROAD LEVELBR.

APPLICATION P111111) AUG. 14, 1906.

zmwwm I VENTO/e A TTORNE V3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRAVEL-SPREADER AND ROAD-LEVELER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed August 14, 1906- Serial No- 330,605.

To a-ZZ/ wit/m1, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID M. TRABUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mays, in the county of Bush and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Gravel- Spreader and Road-Leveler, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a road working machine, and it relates more particularly to a machine-for spreading gravel, crushed stone, and other material, in making or repairing a road and for leveling and smoothing down the ridges left in the middle of the road after the passage of a road scraper.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a machine of this character which is of simple and improved construction and capable of eflicient and reliable operation for either spreading or leveling.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved form ofspreading blade adapted to be removably supported on the leveler or any other suitable part of the machine so that a common elevating means may be employed for the scraper and leveler.

Another object of the invention is the employment of a novel form of leveler comprising a ponderous body, as, for instance, a metal casting, so shaped and arranged as to simultaneously smooth the road-bed and tightly compact the earth, gravel, or other material.

With these objects in view, and others, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine, a portion of the draft device being broken away. Fig. 2 is a front view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the machine.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the axle ofthe machine which may be a single bar of iron of suitable rigidity, as shown, or of any other'suitable construction, so as to serve to support the various operating parts of the machine. The ends of the axle bar 1 are turned down to form crank arms 2 and from the arms extend integral spindles or stub axles 3 for receiving the road wheels 4, the latter being held in place by cotter pins 5, or other suitable means. Extending forwardly from the stub axles and rigidly secured thereto is a triangular frame composed of'iron bars or members 6 riveted together at their forward ends and provided with a ring, hook, or the like, 7, for attaching the machine to a wagon, team of horses, or engine, so as to draw the machine. The arrangement of this draft frame is such that the axle will travel normally with its length at right angles to the road or general direction of travel of the machine. Mounted on the arched axle at any convenient point is a drivers seat 1 which may be of any approved construction.

Under the axle 1, and disposed parallel therewith, is the leveler 8 comprising a heavy mass or body, such as a metal casting, of considerable length compared with its cross sectional dimensions and approximately coextensive with the axle. The leveler is supported on the axle by two elevating and lowering mechanisms arranged at the ends thereof. Each mechanism comprises a bracket 9 secured to the rear side of the axle and extending rearwardly therefrom. The leveler is supported on the bracket by a lever 10 pivoted on the latter and a link or chain 1 1 connected at its upper and lower ends, respectively, to the forward end of the lever and to the top of the leveler by an eye 12. The rear end of the lever serves as a handle, and a spring actuated latch 13 is carried thereby and arranged to engage at its forward end in any one of a plurality of perforations 14 provided in the bracket around the fulcrum of the lever. ver can be tilted and adjusted to any desired position for supporting the leveler at any desired height. Since two of these mechanisms are provided, the leveler can be adjusted so that it will run horizontal, or with either end raised, according to the work to be done. The leveler is guided to movevertically by posts or standards 15, one adjacent each end, which move in guideways 16 formed by the front surface of the axle bar and centrally offset plates, as 17, secured to the axle by rivets or bolts 18, the same serving also to se cure the brackets of the elevating mechanism to the axle.

In order to take the strain off the posts or By this means, the le- JIO standards 15, the leveler is braced from the members 6 ol the draft device by chains 19, or equivalent means. The posts 15 operate to maintain the leveler in its proper position with relation to the road, irrespective of the vertical adjustment. The under surface ol the leveler is concaved or cut away to form an arch 20 that extends ap 'iroximately the full length of the same and it is so shaped as to give the proper crown or slope to the read- Way. In order to better compact the earth, gravel, or the like, of the road-way, the arch tapers toward the rear, or contracts. 111 other words, the arch inclines downwardly toward the rear at a slight angle to the horizontal, so that from the front to the rear of the arch each part thereof acts to progress ively compress and compact the road surface. The leveler is intended to lre used principallylorrunning over a road that has been previously scraped by a scraping inaohine, so as to smooth and level the ridges formed in the center oi. the road by the scraping machine. The great weight ol the leveler serves to compact the material ol the road for the same purpose that an ordinary road roller is used, and the arch of the leveler operates to give the proper crown or slope to the roadway.

For adapting the machine to operate as a spreader, a spreader blade 21 is removably attached to the machine, preferably on the front of the leveler. This blade is made oi sheet steel of suitable thickness and is curved il OIWELI'dlY at its ends so as to form scooplile extensions 22. The body portion 01 the blade is disposed vertically and rests with its rear surface against the front ol the leveler, and the blade is secured to the latter by a central bolt 23, or equivalent means, and end braces 24 extending rearwardly from the extensions 2 and embracing the ends of the leveler to which they are bolted or otherwise suitably secured. The intermediate portion. of the blade is cut away along its lower edge to conform to the central portion of the arch of the leveler. The lower edge of the extension 22 at each end of the blade is considerably below the bottom of the leveler at such points, so that the curvature, 'll'Olll the point 25 of each extension 122 to the point does not conform to the leveler, but is more concaved. It will thus be seen that the spreader distributes the gravel, earth, or other material of the roadway so that an exaggerated crown. or slope is pro .luced, out this, however, is reduced by the action of the leveler operating to compress and compact the irateriial. Since the spreader is attached to the leveler, it is obvio'is' that it can be raised or lowered by the same mechanisms employed for adjusting the height of the leveler. When the machine is to be used as a level er, it is obvious that the spreader blade must be removed.

llfrorn the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawn; the construction and method of o 'llfl'zllxzh, and the arli 'antagw thereoi", will he readlr understood by those SlilllOtl in the art lo wheh the invention appertains, and. it is lhoozghi that further (lQSUllPtlOl'l there'l'oro unnecessary.

l have described the principle oi operation of the invention, together with the apparal us which l; now consider to be the best emlzodz mcnt thereof but i desire to have it undrr stood that the apparatus shown merely illustrative, and that various ch: es ma; 1 made, when. desired, as are within the scope or the invcntimi.

What is claimed is 1-- l. in a road working n'iachine, the comb? nation or a supporting striurtnre, will: the blade extending transversely to the road and llitYlilfj; a curved lower edge.

2. in a road woi ug machine, the com? nation oi a supporting structure, ill a lrlade extending across the road and having an end curved in a rorward (llflKl'dUll and lou'wi' edge arched, and means For mounting ilze blade on the sin vportmg structure.

3. .ln. a road working machine, ihe eomhh nation of a supportnag structure, with a blad having a concaved lower edge and its en curved forwardly, and means for adjn mounting the hlade on the said struel lil -'l-. ln a road working machine, the eomhination or a supportin; structure, w which is arched a' undvlmalely the oi its lower edge and curved 'iorwardl k al i ends to Form scoops, and means lor adjuslln; the height of the blade on the said strni l' in a road working machi e, th

l nation "with a. l eler moimted thereon rm" s lei ing transversely to the road and z m l der surface.

6. in a road working mach ne, lhe eomhination or a supporting struz-lin'e, with a low elcr ol suitable weight mounted lhereon, (he under surface of the leveler lrelnc' inrlined downwardly in a rearward d ner-lion.

in a road wor ng machine, 'lhe remix nation oi a support. 1; structure, xt'ltl! a eler oi si'iitablo we it mounted thereon which is arched and inclined rearmn'dly on its under surface.

$1. The comnnmlion or a snpportii ture, road wlieels, a leveler disposed length transversely of the road, a spreader blade correspondingly disposed, and means for adjusting the leveler and blade on lhe supporting structure.

9. 'lhe combination. ol' a sup 'mrtim: slrueture, road wheels mounted thereon, a leveler supported on the structure, and a spreader blade removably attarhed to the leveler.

10. The cmnbination o'l a supportingstructure, road wheels mounted thereon,

supportmg Hl'lil'i lOw leveler which is arched on its under surface 1 between its ends, a spreader blade which is arched alongits lower edge, and means for supporting the leveler and blade on the structure.

11. The combination of a supporting structure, road wheels mounted thereon, a leveler which is arched 011 its under surface between its ends, a spreader blade which is arched along its lower edge, devices for re j i l i l i l movably attaching the spreader blade to the leveler with their arched portions coinciding, e and means for adjustably mounting the spreader blade and leveler on the structure.

12. The. combination of a supporting structure, road wheels, a leveler, a spreader l blade mounted on the leveler, and means for j raising and lowering the leveler with the blade thereon, said means comprising a lever I mounted on the structure, a link connecting the lever with the leveler, and a device for j locking the lever in different positions. j

13. The combination of a supporting structure, road wheels, a leveler, a spreader blade mounted on the leveler, and separate means for raising and lowering the leveler with the blade thereon, each of said means 1 comprising a lever mounted on the structure, j

a flexible connection between the lever and 1 the adjacent end of the leveler, and a latch mechanism for holding the lever in different l positions. j 14. The combination of a supporting I structure, road wheels, a leveler, a spreader blade mounted on the leveler, means forl guiding the leveler with the blade thereon in l a vertical plane, and adjustable devices for supporting the leveler on the said structure. 15. The combination of a supporting structure, road wheels mounted thereon, a leveler disposed below the structure, posts attaching the leveler on the structure, a draft frame connected with the structure, and means for bracing the leveler from the j draft device. j 16. The combination of a supporting structure, road wheels mounted thereon, a leveler, posts for guiding the movement of l the leveler with respect to the structure, means for raising and lowering the leveler, a draft device connected with the structure, and means extending between the ends of the leveler and the draft device for bracing the leveler therefrom.

17. The combination of a supporting structure, road wheels mounted thereon, a leveler disposed below the structure, upright posts for guiding the movement of the leveler with respect to the structure, a draft device extending forwardly from' and connected with the structure, and independent adjusting mechanismsarranged between the ends of the leveler and structure and extending rearwardly from the latter.

18. The combination of an axle bar, wheels on the ends thereof, a leveler located directly below the axle, vertically extending members movable along the axle for guiding the movement of the leveler, and means between the axle and leveler for adjusting the height of the leveler.

19. The combination of an axle bar, wheels 3 on the ends thereof, a leveler located directly below the axle, vertically extending members attached to the leveler, devices secured to the axle to form guides for the said members, and separately actuated mechanisms between the ends of the. leveler and axle for adjusting the former.

20. The combination of an axle, wheels mounted on the same, a leveler, standards on the same, offset plates on the axle cooperating with the latter to form guides in which the standards move vertically, and means for adjusting the leveler.

21. The combination of an axle, wheels mounted on the same, a leveler, standards on the same, offset plates on one side of the axle which cooperate with the latter to form guides in which the standards move vertically, brackets on the opposite side of the axle from the plates, and mechanisms supported on the brackets and attached to the leveler for adjusting the latter.

22. The combination of an axle, wheels mounted on the same, a leveler, standards on the same, offset plates on one side of the axle which cooperate with the latter to form guides in which the standards move vertically, brackets on the opposite side of the axle from the plates, bolts serving as common means for securing the plates and the brackets tothe axle, and mechanisms on the brackets and attached to the leveler for adjusting the latter.

23. In a road working machine, a leveler, a spreader blade arranged on one side thereof with its ends projecting therefrom, and devices between the ends of the leveler and blade for bracing the latter.

In testimony that I-claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID M. TRABUE.

IVitnesses:

CLEM C. CLARK, BERT L. TRABUE. 

